Fisher matrix forecasts for astrophysical tests of the stability of the fine-structure constant

Abstract

We use Fisher Matrix analysis techniques to forecast the cosmological impact of astrophysical tests of the stability of the fine-structure constant to be carried out by the forthcoming ESPRESSO spectrograph at the VLT (due for commissioning in late 2017), as well by the planned high-resolution spectrograph (currently in Phase A) for the European Extremely Large Telescope. Assuming a fiducial model without $\alpha$ variations, we show that ESPRESSO can improve current bounds on the Eötvös parameter---which quantifies Weak Equivalence Principle violations---by up to two orders of magnitude, leading to stronger bounds than those expected from the ongoing tests with the MICROSCOPE satellite, while constraints from the E-ELT should be competitive with those of the proposed STEP satellite. Should an $\alpha$ variation be detected, these measurements will further constrain cosmological parameters, being particularly sensitive to the dynamics of dark energy.

Phys. Lett. B (in press)

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Cited by in corpus (4)

• ESPRESSO@VLT -- On-sky performance and first results
• The status of varying constants: a review of the physics, searches and implications
• Distinguishing freezing and thawing dark energy models through measurements of the fine-structure constant
• The AstroCamp Project